History

In 1852, the County of Tulare was established.  Shortly thereafter, Visalia became the county seat as well as the trading center for the Central Valley.  Policing in frontier Visalia was the responsibility of the Sheriff's Office until 1864 when the first town incorporation took place and town officers were elected.  Marshal Kennedy was the first Visalia Town Marshal who "took office" in the midst of the great turmoil.  During that time, the Civil War was being fought and Visalia was in the middle of it.

Marshals continued to provide law enforcement duties until 1923 when the city manager form of government was adopted and the Visalia Police Department came into existence.  Chief Court Smith was the first Chief of Police.  The Visalia Police Department has been in operation ever since.  At that time, the Police Department was originally located at the corner of Church and Acequia Street in the same building with the Fire Department and City Hall.  Pictured above is VPD Staff in the early 1900s.